Method for making money on internet news sites and blogs

ABSTRACT

A method for making an online posted comment more conspicuous relative to other online posted comments. The method can include the steps of publishing internet content online by an internet content provider; providing with the published content a section for recording and posting reader comments; viewing by a reader the published internet content; providing to the reader an option of posting for free a default format comment or posting for a fee a comment made distinctive relative to a default format comment; recording, by the reader, a comment; paying, by the reader, the fee for making the comment distinctive relative to a default format comment; and posting the reader&#39;s distinctive comment in the comment section, wherein the posted comment lacks an indication of the time of posting. The fee for distinctiveness transaction can also be implemented by use of an online auction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12/479,780,entitled Method for Making Money on the Internet, filed Jun. 6, 2009,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,065,193 which is hereby incorporated herein byreference. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.12/492,132, entitled Universal One-Click Online Payment Method andSystem, filed Jun. 25, 2009, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for monetizing online content on theinternet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The internet is the main source of news and information for growingnumbers of people. Mainstream media news organizations, niche newsoutlets, and alternative viewpoint news sources all maintain newscontent on websites. In addition to news, the internet has fostered thegrowth and popularity of “web logs” or “blogs” run by “bloggers” assources of news and information.

One problem with the internet as a source of news and information isthat it is difficult for news organizations or bloggers to generaterevenue. Popular sites can attract paying advertisers, but in thecurrent internet environment the sheer number of websites offering newsand information makes the pool of advertising dollars insufficient tobring in satisfying revenue for many. Additionally, some websites orblogs have very loyal, but very limited readership, so that the size ofthe reading audience makes the website unattractive to advertisers orotherwise monetize their efforts.

There is a continuing unmet need for a method for internet contentproviders, such as organizations with websites, individuals or groupswith blogs, and syndicated news organizations to generate revenue, oradditional revenue, for the content provided to the public.

Many websites provide news and information content with a provision forthe reader to leave comments. For example, a news story can include aplace, usually at the end of the article, for the user to post his orher comments. Sometimes the user must first register, but other timesthe user simply leaves a comment pursuant to the instructions given.Likewise, many blogs provide the opportunity for readers to comment.Again, the person commenting may have to first register, but not always.Sometimes comments are moderated, which means they can be first checkedfor content before posting publicly on the website.

Popular or controversial news stories or blog entries can generate manyhundreds of comments. Comments are usually posted in chronologicalorder, and can be ranked or emailed by readers. Sometimes comments areposted in non-chronological order, such as by “most popular” or “mostemailed”. Sometimes the comment section is set up to allow comments oncomments, with those readers submitting comments, i.e., commenters,often generating a line of thought that can be independent of theoriginal story.

A reader of a news story or blog often checks the comments, but may notread down more than a few comments, and may read only the first and lastcomments. Many comments go unread for lack of visibility, that is, theyare in essence “buried” in the multitude of other comments. Many readersand commenters (i.e., readers who leave comments) alike can find thelack of attention to particular comments to be frustrating. For example,a reader who wishes to leave what the reader perceives to be aparticularly salient comment may be frustrated by the knowledge that hercomment might be in the middle of hundreds of others, thereby making ithighly unlikely to be read by anyone.

There is a continuing unmet need for a way to permit commenters on newsstories or blog entries to get their comments noticed.

Often internet content providers offer readers the opportunity topurchase goods or services. Various methodologies and systems arecurrently known and used to effect commerce via electronic means such asthe internet. Because of security concerns, known services require usernames and passwords, or the entry of personal information such as creditcard data each time a financial transaction is made, making transactionscumbersome for readers. For example, it is believed that the popularonline system PAYPAL® requires users, in addition to an initialregistration, to enter a user name and password upon each use of the itsservice. For occasional users this is a hindrance to quickly transactingbusiness, and for low-cost goods or services, the hindrance can beprohibitively high, keeping some users from completing a transaction.Other services, such as APPLE® computer's popular iTunes® music arebelieved to utilize the so-called “one-click” technology pioneered byAmazon.com, which is believed to map a server-assigned client identifierto a purchaser, which thereafter permits purchase completion based onpurchaser-specific information already stored at the server system.However, it is believed that current “one-click” technology neverthelessrequires the user to log on with a user name and password if the user isnot using a computer having a file called a “cookie” in which is theassigned client identifier. And, it is believed, even when the user ison a computer having a sufficient file having the required cookie, theuser is nevertheless required to enter a password prior to completing apurchase of goods or services from the internet content provider.

There is a continuing unmet need for an easy, quick, and relativelysecure, i.e., relatively low risk, methodology for effecting electroniccommerce utilizing the internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A computerized system for making money on the internet is disclosed. Thesystem includes an internet content provider providing onlineinformation and an online comment section associated with the onlineinformation. The online comment section can be capable of having postedthereto reader comments in a free default format. A receiving accountcan be associated with the internet content provider. A communicationinterface can be utilized by the internet content provider and adaptedto receive financial transaction data from a payment account of a readerto the receiving account of the internet content provider over acommunication network. Computer executable instructions can be used forperforming steps including displaying an offer associated with saidonline information, the offer being an offer to alter a comment from thedefault format to a distinctive format for a predetermined fee;receiving by the internet content provider, from the reader of theinformation an acceptance of the offer including a request to alter acomment from the default format; debiting the payment account of thereader with the predetermined fee; crediting the receiving account withthe predetermined fee; altering the comment from the default format;displaying the altered comment in the online comment section, whereinthe altered comment does not include an indication of the time ofposting. The system can also have a processor for executing the computerexecutable instructions and a memory for storing at least the computerexecutable instructions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart description of one method of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart description of one method of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart description of one method for enabling electronicpayment utilizing the internet.

FIGS. 4-6 are a flowchart description of one method of effecting anelectronic commerce transaction utilizing the internet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method of the present invention has as an object the making of moneyusing the internet. As used herein the term internet is used in itsnormal usage to be the system, including the World Wide Web by whichcontent providers, such as news sites, can supply web content, such asfrom a news server, to be displayed, or published, on internet connectedclient (or reader) computers operable to access and display the contentvia a web browser. Therefore, computers, networks, internet connections,operating systems, programs, data structures, processing units, systemmemory components, system busses, wireless connections, cookies, mobiledevices such as Blackberries®, iPhones®, and other computing hardwareand software as known in the art for internet communication can beutilized in the present invention. By way of further example, a computerand computing environment suitable for practicing the present inventionis described in U.S. Ser. No. 11/197,067, published Feb. 15, 2007 as US2007/0038646, entitled Ranking Blog Content, and particularly paragraphs[0083] to [0102] and FIGS. 11 and 12. Likewise, a method and system forplacing an order via the internet can be practiced according to thatdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,411, granted Sep. 28, 199. Thus,without being bound by theory, or limited by lack of precise jargon, thedescription of the invention below is intended to be understood as beingoperable in the context of known means for operating websites, paymentsystems, computers, servers, and user-generated content, all ascurrently used for internet activity, but lacking in the inventivefeatures of the present invention.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the subject invention. It may be evident, however, thatthe invention can be practiced without some of these specific details.

The method of the invention allows willing readers to pay a fee forhaving posted comments to an online publication of an internet contentprovider rendered distinctive, the distinctive comments being alteredfrom a default comment format so that the altered comments aredistinctive relative to a default format. Readers can comment on a newsstory or blog entry, and the like, whether or not they read the onlinepublication to which comments are associated. Readers can also be peoplewho wish to alter for distinctiveness a comment of another. In thismanner, readers desiring that the reading public read their comment, orthe comment of another, can, by paying a fee to the internet contentprovider or a third party on behalf of the internet content provider,have a comment visibly changed in its online published format so as tomake it stand out from the comments posted in a free default format.

Payment for having posted comments rendered distinctive can beaccomplished by known methods. However, recognizing that in many casesthe fee for such services by an internet content provider is likely tobe relatively small, the present invention contemplates a method andsystem for making the transaction quick and easy. For web-browsingreaders, particularly readers commenting on a news story, blog, or otherinternet content provider's site, such as DIGG® and other such newsranking sites, speed and ease are important. In one sense, for readerscommenting on the internet, instant gratification is important. If areader is required to enter in personal information such as name,address, email, credit card number, and the like, the reader is notlikely to complete a purchase for a relatively modest amount. As fullydescribed below, the present invention solves the problem of cumbersomepurchase steps, offering the reader quick and easy purchasing of goodsand services utilizing the internet.

“Internet content provider” as used herein refers to individuals,organizations, corporations, or other entities that utilize computers orcomputer systems to publish content on the internet for reading by thoseconnected to the internet via web browsers operating on computers. Thus,for example, CNN is an internet content provider, providing news storiesvia the URL www.cnn.com to readers who enter the URL into the webbrowser on their personal computers. Similarly, The Huffington Post isan internet content provider, providing commentary in the form of a weblog, or “blog” via the URL www.thehuffingtonpost.com to readers whoenter the URL into the web browser on their personal computers. Readerscan subscribe to internet content providers via syndication feeds, andindividual URLs can be stored via browser “bookmark” or “favorites”utilities.

“Comment” or “comments” as used herein refers, in context, to theexpression of the thoughts and/or opinion that a reader writes and/orposts in commentary, letters, and the like, for publication in thesection of an internet content provider's web content that is intendedfor reader comments. The expression can take the form of text, as inletters, words and sentences, images, as in digital photos and videos,sounds, as in audio recordings, graphical descriptions, advertising, URLlinks, and combinations thereof. “Comments” or “comment section” alsorefers, in context, to the portion of a section of an internet contentprovider's website intended to contain the expression of readers' postedthoughts and/or opinion.

In prior art comment sections, the appearance or placement (relative toother comments and/or relative to the web page on which they appear) ofthe comment as publicly posted was not in the commenter's control. Aftersubmitting the comment it would show up posted in a default formatutilized by the website or content provider, including, usually, in achronological order with the time and date displayed. In some instances,the internet content provider permits certain html-code commands, andother limited textual commands to render text as bold, italics, and thelike, all of which is not considered to be modified or altered to beconspicuous or distinctive within the scope of the present invention.

“Default format” as used herein with respect to the format of thecomment section of an internet providers' story or blog entry, refers toa typical or standard format for comments utilized by a news site or ablog for which no fee is received from the commenter, and which formatcan, according to the present invention, be modified or altered bypayment of a fee as disclosed herein.

“Commenter” as used herein is one who makes, leaves, or posts a commenton a page of an internet content provider. “Reader” when used in contextof one who wishes to leave a comment is synonymous with commenter.

“Payer” as used herein is a person, company, or other entity controllinga payment account from which monetary funds can be dispersed orotherwise paid for goods or services. As used herein, a payment accountcontrolled by a payer, such as an individual checking account,individual debit account, individual credit card, company credit orchecking account, or the like, for which the payer is an account holderor is otherwise authorized to control the account, is said to be“associated with” the payer. Likewise, a receiving account is“associated with” an online merchant such as an internet contentprovider, if the account is owned or controlled by the internet contentprovider or owned or controlled by an entity in the internet contentprovider's trust.

In one embodiment, the internet content provider can be a newsorganization, providing news stories. In another embodiment, theinternet content provider can be a blogger, providing opinion and otherinformation, including news, on a blog. In either embodiment, whether itbe a news story, a blog entry, or other information, the internetcontent provider can make provision for readers to leave an onlinecomment, with an added provision of facilitating or permitting paymentof a fee in exchange for having the reader's comment rendered moreconspicuous and distinctive by altering or modifying it relative to afree default format, and/or by placing it in a distinctive position on aweb page relative to other comments which may or may not be in a freedefault format.

In one embodiment, a news story or blog entry can have associatedtherewith, for example, at the end thereof, a section for readers toleave comments. Such comment sections and reader-generated comments arecurrently used by online content providers, and comments can includemessages, URL addresses, video links, quoted material, letters, lettersto the editor, and the like. Such comments are currently known to beposted in a default format for free, either with or without firstregistering, and either with or without moderation of the comment.

The present invention provides for a solution to a website's problem oflack of sufficient revenue, and at the same time, indulges a reader'sdesire to have his or her comment made more prominent, by providing fora fee payment from the reader to the internet content provider, or apredetermined third party handling the internet provider's financialtransaction, in exchange for the internet content provider posting thereader's comment in a distinctive manner. In one embodiment, after thereader types out a comment, the reader can be prompted by an on screenprompt to pay a fee in exchange for the reader's comment to be modifiedfrom the standard or default format used for free (i.e., cost free, nofee paid by the reader) comments by making it distinctively differentfrom other comments and/or placing it in a distinctive location orposition relative to other comments. For example, for a fee, theinternet content provider can keep a reader's comment as the firstcomment after a news story, regardless of the otherwise chronologicaltiming of the posting.

In one embodiment, the reader can agree to pay a fee, and can pay thefee from a payment account via known methods of fee payment, such as byonline credit card, online secure credit payment, or PAYPAL®. Thereader's payment account can be a debit account or a checking account.The fee can be deposited into the internet content provider's receivingaccount, or a receiving account of a third party charged with receivingfees for the internet content provider. Any known online payment systemcan be used to allow the reader to pay a fee to the internet contentprovider or a predetermined third party. In one embodiment, for certainreaders of a news site or blog, the internet content provider can setup, and the reader can subscribe to, a personal deposit account withmoney deposited therein by the reader from which the reader can instructthe news site or blog to deduct payment upon instruction by the readerto do so. As well, payment for goods or services utilizing the internetcan be effected by the method and system disclosed more fully below, inwhich a purchaser can make purchases quickly and easily withoutnecessarily having to input at the time of purchase credentials such asa username or password.

In one embodiment, in exchange for a fee paid by the reader, thereader's comment, letter, or the like can be posted in a conditionaltered from a free (no cost or fee) default format by use of, forexample, a distinctive background, background color, border, bordercolors, text, text color, text font, text font size, and combinationsthereof. For example, after paying a fee, the reader's comment, letter,photo, or the like can be displayed among the free default-formatcomments, with a distinctive background color, a distinctive border,larger font text, and combinations thereof. Similarly, after paying afee, the reader's comment, letter, photo or the like can be posted in adifferent position or location relative to the free default-formatcomments. The different position or location can be a prominent,non-chronological placement with other comments, or a separate place onthe web page with other comments, or on a separate web page. In this wayof monetizing internet content, the public is benefited by an openmarket system that permits readers to satisfy their desire to bedistinctive, while simultaneously providing revenue to the internetcontent provider, who can continue to provide valuable information tothe public without charge.

In one embodiment, in exchange for a fee paid by the reader, thereader's comment can be altered from a free default format by allowingthe user to customize the comment with the reader's choice of color,style, and/or size of various components of the comment.

In one embodiment, a specified distinctiveness, such as a distinctiveappearance and/or position in a comments section or a distinctiveappearance and/or position on a web page, can be auctioned off, similarto how items are auctioned on popular websites such as eBay®. Forexample, highly visible or otherwise well-placed comments, such as thefirst comment to appear after a news story or blog entry, or aseparately displayed comment on a web page, can be auctioned to ahighest bidder. In such an embodiment, a reader can place a bid for aspecified position, such as the first comment to appear after a newsstory or blog entry, or any other designated spot. Upon placing the bid,the reader can be notified, either manually by a human website monitor,or automatically via software designed to handle bids such as that usedby eBay® and the like, if he is the top bidder. Upon such notification,if he is not the high bidder, the reader can decide if he will raise (or“up”) the bid so as to gain the desired spot, or take other action. Ifhe is the high bidder, his comment will be posted in the bid-fordistinctiveness. Additionally, the internet content provider can providean option for the high bidder to be notified if another reader bidshigher, thereby displacing his comment from its specifieddistinctiveness.

In one embodiment, the order or placement of distinctive comments can beaccording to the fee paid. Thus, in an auction-type environment, thecurrent high bidding commenter can have his or her comment placed in amost distinctive manner, such as being the first comment to appear aftera news story. The next highest bidder can have his or her comment placedin the second most distinctive manner, such as being the second commentto appear after a news story. In this way, the public is benefited by anopen market “bidding war” that permits readers to satisfy their desireto be most distinctive, while simultaneously providing revenue to theinternet content provider, who can continue to provide valuableinformation to the public without charge.

In one embodiment the internet content provider can guarantee a minimumor maximum time in a distinctive position for the fee received. Once theset time period expires, another reader can purchase the position foranother set time period. In this manner, more than one reader can havehis or her comment placed in a desirably distinctive position.

In one embodiment, a specified distinctiveness, such as a distinctiveappearance and/or position in a comments section or a distinctiveappearance and/or position on a web page, can be bid for, either byfixed price or by auction, for fixed time with a predetermined starttime and stop time. In this manner, readers can bid for predictabletiming of the exposure of their comments.

In one embodiment, a specified distinctiveness, such as a distinctiveappearance and/or position in a comments section or a distinctiveappearance and/or position on a web page, can be shared with otherdistinctive comments, such as in a special location on a web page, setapart from the free default-format comments.

In one embodiment the reader can bid for a desired spot, and if he orshe is successful he or she can also put in a maximum bid to beautomatically increased in predetermined increments if others bid forthe same spot. Again, the basic concept is the same as, and can utilizeall relevant software, executable programs, executable instructions,components, graphics, and algorithms of current online auction methods,such as the methods utilized by websites like eBay®. In this manner morethan one reader can bid on any given desired position for posting acomment, with the criteria for successful posting simply being thehighest bid. In one embodiment the internet content provider can set apredetermined time period in which bids are received, with the winningbid being rewarded the subject comment distinctiveness.

In one embodiment, the reader may desire to respond to another comment.In this case, the reader can be given the option of having the priorcomment, to which he or she is responding, given the samedistinctiveness of appearance and/or location as the reader's comment.

In one embodiment, another person other than the reader can pay a fee inexchange for having a comment made by another rendered distinctive. Forexample, a reader reading the comments made by others may read a commentin a free default format, which the reader would like to highlight forothers by paying a fee in exchange for distinctiveness. In oneembodiment, a commenter can be provided the means for ensuring thatothers cannot render their comment distinctive. For example, beforeleaving a comment to be posted in the comments section of a news storyor blog entry, a commenter can be prompted to choose whether or not heor she would allow another person to change the appearance of thecomment from the free default format to an altered distinctive format.

Therefore, the system and method of the present invention can bedescribed as an internet-based system and method in which an internetcontent provider provides news or blog entry content on a website, forexample, directly or via a server as is known in the art, or via anyother manner known in the art. The internet content can be accessed by aperson having an internet connection from a remote computer, such as ahome computer connected via a service provider to the internet. Forexample, the internet content provider can be CNN.com, Foxnews.com,Yahoo.com, Salon.com, and the like, and the service provider can be TimeWarner ROADRUNNER®, AOL, and the like. In general, the internet contentprovider and connected computer users utilize digital computer means topublish and access content via the internet, such as the World Wide Web,and can implement the content and other web-based activities by means ofa processor for executing computer executable instructions and a memoryfor storing at least the computer executable instructions. Thecomputers, processors, and memory can be any of known devices as isknown in the art for implementing internet-based information content anduser-configured online transactions.

In the present invention, in addition to permitting comments to beposted in a free default format, computer executable instructions of thesystem can prompt the reader to choose, such as by clicking or doubleclicking on a designated radio button, hyperlink, or other link, to paya fee in exchange for the reader's comment, or comment chosen by areader, being modified for distinctiveness relative to the free defaultformat. The reader can be prompted at the time of making a comment, orthe reader can be provided a link to elect to pay for distinctiveness ofa previously posted comment.

Prior to paying a fee, or after electing to pay a fee, computerexecutable instructions of the system can provide one or more optionsfor the reader or other user from which to choose. The internet contentprovider can provide one or more templates having pre-selected color andfont schemes. The internet provider can provide an a la carte selectionof various colors, borders, fonts, and the like so that the reader canchoose his or her own attributes of distinctiveness. The internetcontent provider can provide a preview of the comment so that the readercan see what it will look like in the context of other comments beforechoosing to complete the transaction and have the altered, distinctivecomment posted.

In one embodiment the fee required for a distinctive comment can bedynamically adjustable, and can be determined by conditions set by theinternet content provider. For example, a base fee for a distinctivecomment can be set to be a nominal cost of Y dollars. However, if manypeople are purchasing distinctiveness, it may be that “distinctive” isnot so distinctive, so the internet content provider can raise the feeZ>Y dollars, thereby letting market conditions moderate how manydistinctive comments are in a particular thread of comments. Forexample, the fee can be governed by an algorithm programmed into thecomputer executable instructions that adjusts the fee based on thepercentage of distinctive format comments relative to the total freedefault format comments in a particular thread. When the percentagereaches a set figure, the fee can be raised accordingly. Likewise, ifthe percentage lowers below a set figure, the fee can be lowered toattract more paid comments.

In an embodiment incorporating a dynamically adjustable fee, the commentdistinctiveness can be an altered appearance relative to a free defaultformat, but the comments can be otherwise posted in chronological order.The algorithm that governs the dynamically adjustable fee can take intoaccount the number of consecutive distinctive comments, such that upon aset number, such as three, the fee can increase such that thedistinctive comments do not become indistinct due to relatively closeproximity to other distinct comments.

By having a dynamically adjustable fee, an internet content provider cangenerate increased revenue above that which a flat fee might generate.Particularly controversial news or blog entries, for example, cangenerate many heated and emotional responses, such that the value to areader for posting a distinctive comment can be greater, and with moreinterest in being distinctive, the internet content provider can enjoygreater revenue with increasing fees for distinctive posts.

Once the reader chooses to pay a fee, or after a reader wins the biddingfor an auctioned distinctiveness, computer executable instruction canfacilitate that the fee be paid via any of known internet fee-paymentmethods, including by credit card transaction, debit card transaction,checking account transaction, and fee paying services such as PayPal®,as well as the method described herein below. The fee can be paid from apayment account of the reader, such as a credit card account, a debitcard account, a checking account, or a PayPal® account. The fee can bereceived in a receiving account, which can be a bank account of theinternet content provider, or a third party entrusted with handling thefinancial transaction for the internet content provider. The computerexecutable instruction can generate for the reader confirmation of feepayment on screen, or via an email receipt, and the on screeninformation can provide the commenter any other information deemednecessary by the internet content provider. The fee can be paid by themethod and system disclosed more fully below, in which a reader need notremember a user name and/or password to complete the financialtransaction for fee payment.

In one embodiment, a distinctive comment can be auctioned to a highestbidder. In one embodiment, computer executable instructions display to areader an offer for particular distinctiveness, and receive bids fromreaders, who communicate their desire by responding to the onscreeninstructions to do so. The computer executable instructions can set atime period in which multiple bids can be received, and the highest bidcan win the auctioned distinctive comment once and for all. Or thecomputer executable instructions can place a highest bidder comment inpredetermined place of particular distinctiveness only for the timebefore and until there is a higher bid for the same particulardistinctiveness. For example, a news internet content provider cansupply a news article to be displayed on an internet connected reader'scomputer operable to display the article, for example in a web browser.The news article can have at the end thereof displayed a commentssection, and at least one position for one or more comments ofparticular distinctiveness reserved for a highest bidder. At Time 1,Reader 1 can bid N dollars and be the high bidder, thereby having hiscomment displayed with distinctiveness reserved for the high bidder.But, if at Time 2 Reader 2 bids and pays an amount greater than Ndollars, then Reader 2's comment replaces Reader 1's, or is placed in aposition more distinctive than Reader 1's. In one embodiment, Reader 1can then receive a notification, for example via email, that he is nolonger the highest bidder, and provided an opportunity to bid again. Inanother embodiment, Reader 1 can set a maximum bid to be increasedautomatically in increments sufficient to outbid subsequent bidders, upto a maximum amount specified, thereby remaining in the distinctiveposition until the maximum bid amount is surpassed by another bidder.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a system and method for makingmoney on the internet by providing for reader comment distinctiveness inexchange for a fee is shown. Generally, an internet content providerpublishes content 100 on the internet, the content being accessible toreaders by use of a computer having internet access and being connectedvia a web browser to the URL of the internet content provider. A readerviews 102 the published internet content, which can be a news article, ablog entry, a video clip, and the like. The published internet contentoffers the reader the opportunity to leave comments, at least in a freedefault format or in a for-fee distinctive format. The distinctiveformat can be described by the internet content provider, including byexamples of sample formats, positions, and the like. Leaving commentsmay require registration with the internet content provider, and mayrequire approval by a moderator. The reader can choose to leave acomment 104, and decides whether to choose distinctiveness for hiscomment 106. If the reader does not view the internet content, or if thereader chooses not to leave a comment, there is no online transaction114. If the reader chooses to pay for distinctiveness, the reader pays108 via any known methods for executing a financial transaction over theinternet, including by entry and processing from a reader's paymentaccount, such as by use of a credit card or debit card, direct banktransfer, PayPal®, to the internet content provider's payment receivingaccount (or a third party's receiving account, as arranged by theinternet content provider), or by the method and system described belowwith respect to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Once the reader'sfee is processed, such that a payment is moved from a reader's paymentaccount to the internet content provider's account, the reader's commentis posted in a distinctive format 110. If the reader does not wish tohave her comment rendered distinctive, or if the reader does not pay afee to do so, the reader's comment can be posted in the free defaultformat 112.

Referring to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a system and method for makingmoney on the internet by providing for distinctiveness in exchange for afee is shown. Generally, an internet content provider publishes content200 on the internet, the content being accessible to readers by use of acomputer having internet access and being connected via a web browser tothe URL of the internet content provider. The published internet contentoffers readers the opportunity to post comments in at least in a freedefault format or readers can bid for a distinctive appearance and/ordistinctive position of a posted comment. The distinctive appearance canbe described by the internet content provider, including by examples ofsample formats, positions, and the like. Leaving comments may requireregistration with the internet content provider, and may requireapproval by a moderator. At Time 1 a first reader, Reader 1, views 202the published internet content, which can be a news article, a blogentry, a video clip, and the like. If Reader 1 chooses to not leave acomment, no transaction occurs 214. Reader 1 can choose to leave acomment 204, and decides whether to bid for distinctiveness for hiscomment 206. If the reader chooses to bid for distinctiveness, thereader bids 208 via known internet auction techniques, including thoseused by eBay®. If Reader 1 is not the highest bidder, Reader 1 can bidagain 206. If Reader 1 is the highest bidder, Reader 1 can pay 210 thebid amount by any known methods for executing a financial transactionover the internet, including by entry and processing from Reader 1'spayment account, such as by use of a credit card or debit card, directbank transfer, PayPal®, to the internet content provider's paymentreceiving account (or a third party's receiving account, as arranged bythe internet content provider), or by the method and system describedbelow with respect to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4. Reader 1 canalso, if provided for by the internet content provider, set a maximumbid and incremental amounts that he wishes the internet content providerto automatically raise his bid up to the maximum amount, in the eventthat a second reader wishes to out-bid Reader 1's current bid. OnceReader 1's fee is processed, such that a payment is made from Reader 1'spayment account to the internet content provider's account, Reader 1'scomment is posted in a distinctive format 212. If Reader 1 does not bidor does not pay the bid amount, Reader 1's comment can be posted in thefree default format 224.

Further as shown in FIG. 2, a second reader, Reader 2 can read 218 thepublished content 200 at Time 2, and can choose to leave a comment 216,and decides whether to bid for distinctiveness for her comment 218, withthis aspect of the invention requiring that Reader 2 must bid higherthan at least Reader 1's winning bid 219, as well as, if used, Reader1's stored maximum bid 220, which can be raised automatically inpredetermined incremental amounts up to Reader 1's specified maximum. IfReader 2 chooses to not leave a comment, no transaction occurs 214. IfReader 2 bids but is not the highest bidder, Reader 2 can bid again 218.If Reader 2 is the highest bidder, Reader 2 can pay 220 the bid amountby any known methods for executing a financial transaction over theinternet, including by entry and processing from Reader 2's paymentaccount, such as by use of a credit card or debit card, direct banktransfer, or PayPal®, to the internet content provider's paymentreceiving account (or a third party's receiving account, as arranged bythe internet content provider). Reader 2 can also, if provided for bythe internet content provider, set a maximum bid and incremental amountsthat she wishes the internet content provider to automatically raise herbid up to the maximum amount, in the event that a subsequent readerwishes to out-bid Reader 2's current bid. Once Reader 2's fee isprocessed, such that a payment is made from Reader 2's payment accountto the internet content provider's account, Reader 2's comment is postedin a distinctive format 222, which can replace Reader 1's, or displaceReader 1's to a different position. If Reader 2 does not bid or does notpay the bid amount, Reader 2's comment can be posted in the free defaultformat 224.

In one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the method canbe as described above with respect to FIG. 2, but modified in that theinternet content provider can allow for multiple “top” spots, such thata second, or third highest bidder can gain a particularly distinctivecomment.

The method of the present invention can be implemented in conjunctionwith a promotion of the internet content provider. For example, theinternet content provider can have a sweepstakes promotion, wherebyreaders who pay for comments can be entered into a sweepstakes for anaward, such as an award for a “super-distinctive” comment, which can bea comment made uniquely distinctive for a time.

The method of the invention can be associated with a trademarked slogan,such as “Cop the Top Spot” and promoted conspicuously on the internetcontent providers web pages. In one embodiment an internet contentprovider displays in online information a window advertising an offer tomake a comment distinctive.

The method of the present invention can be implemented by having“dueling comments” whereby two opposing viewpoints can be displayed inappropriately disposed comment sections, whereby two paying readers canhave their respective viewpoints displayed for readers to compare. Forexample, two sections for fee-paid distinctive comments can be displayedin side-by-side relationship, or in alternating chronologicalrelationship.

The method and system of the present invention can include as an addedbenefit the absence of a time and/or date associated with alteredcomments, that is, comments made distinctive by payment. Current blogsand news sites typically list the time and date of posting of comments.But, surprisingly, it has been found that such information adds nothingto the comment's value. Except for curiosity on the part of readers, thetime and/or date is unnecessary and, although universally utilized, hasno inherent value to the content of the comment. For this reason, in oneembodiment of the present invention the altered comment lacks anindication of the time of posting. That is, a comment made distinctiveaccording to the present invention can be posted in the absence of,i.e., without, an indication of the time of posting. Such lack of timeand/or date notation can aid in avoiding a reader's prejudging acomment's content based on knowledge of payment, of suspicion of paymentinferred by an out-of-order time notation.

The method of the present invention utilizes computers, wherein the termcomputers encompasses the whole of components such as processors,memory, servers, software, hardware, and the like, and wherein computersas such are machines for facilitating the method. Therefore, the methodof the present invention can be described as machines transforming thesubject matter of online reader comments. That is, the computer machinesare utilized to transform the physical representation of the tangibleexpression of online comments, from one tangible output to a differenttangible output, e.g., from a first default tangible expression ofcontent to a second distinctive tangible expression of content.

The concept underlying the method of the present invention could bereapplied analogously to the print media of newspapers and magazines,with the system and method using online features and capabilities. Aprint magazine, such as Newsweek, could accept online submissions ofletters to the editor for its newsstand print magazine, and could offerfee-based distinctiveness to readers who so desired. Readers who pay theassociated fee could have their comments printed in the magazine madedistinctive with respect to the free default comments.

The financial transaction involved with the payment of a fee by thereader, as well as a financial transaction for any exchange for anygoods or services over the internet, can be completed according to themethod and system described herein below. In particular, the method andsystem disclosed is intended to render the financial transactionvirtually barrier free to the payer and payee alike. In the mannerdescribed financial transactions, particularly relatively low-valuetransactions, can be effected quickly and easily by the purchaser,resulting in increased revenue for the goods or services provider.

As used herein, the term “payer” is the person from whose paymentaccount funds are transferred from in a financial transaction accordingto the method and system herein (referred to herein as payer orpayer/client). However, because the method and system can work solely onthe basis of the identity of the client system (e.g., a home computer),and not the identity of the person using it at the time of a financialtransaction, the term payer is also used herein to indicate one using aclient system for purposes of effecting a financial transaction, eventhough it is recognized that in actual practice the person completing afinancial transaction may not be an actual payer but can be a readerusing the payer's client system, a commenter using the client system, aclient system owner, as well as a fraudster, an identity thief, ahacker, a forger, or an otherwise unauthorized user of the clientsystem.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the method and systemof the present invention for effecting a relatively quick, easyelectronic financial transaction is beneficial because users are willingto incur relatively more risk with respect to unauthorized transactionsin exchange for ease and speed of the transaction and control over, andlimits on, the consequences of any unauthorized purchases.

In one embodiment the method and system for payment of an amount forgoods or services, including a fee for making a comment distinctive, canbe paid from a payer's payment account into a receiving account for thebenefit of the payee without the payer providing or needing to type in apassword or any other user identifier at the time of the transaction.

In one embodiment the method and system for payment of an amount forgoods or services, including a fee for making a comment distinctive, canbe paid from a payer's payment account into a receiving account for thebenefit of the payee without the need for manually entering credentialssuch as a password or other identifier as long as the purchase amount isbelow a payer-specified amount.

In one embodiment the method and system for payment of an amount forgoods or services, including a fee for making a comment distinctive, canbe paid from a payer's payment account into a receiving account for thebenefit of the payee without the need for manually entering credentialssuch as a password or other identifier as long as the number of purchasetransactions per time period, such as the number of purchases per day,is below a payer-specified number.

In one embodiment the method and system for payment of an amount forgoods or services, including a fee for making a comment distinctive, canbe paid from a payer's payment account into a receiving account for thebenefit of the payee without the need for manually entering credentialssuch as a password or other identifier as long as the total cumulativepurchase amount of per time period, such as the total amount purchasedper day, is below a payer-specified amount.

In one embodiment the method and system for payment of an amount forgoods or services, including a fee for making a comment distinctive, canbe paid from a payer's payment account into a receiving account for thebenefit of the payee without the need for manually entering credentialssuch as a password or other identifier, but if a password has alreadybeen entered on the client system, such as in the user's initial log on,the already-entered password can be used as an additional credential forextra risk mitigation at the time of purchase.

In one embodiment the method and system for payment of an amount forgoods or services, including a fee for making a comment distinctive,once a purchase amount is paid from a payer's payment account into areceiving account for the benefit of the payee, a message confirming thepurchase can be sent to the payer, such as by email, cell phone, SMStext, Twitter, instant message or the like. In one embodimentconfirmation is sent in a manner that is likely to be substantiallyinstantly received by the payer, such as by instant message, textmessage, Twitter, or the like. In one embodiment, the confirmation issent to a device other than the client system, such as to a payer's (ora payer-designate's) cell phone or other mobile device.

In one embodiment the method and system for payment of an amount forgoods or services, including a fee for making a comment distinctive,once a purchase amount is paid from a payer's payment account into areceiving account for the benefit of the payee, and once a messageconfirming the purchase is sent to the payer, such as by email, cellphone, SMS text, Twitter, or the like, is sent, the payer can signal,such as by return email, SMS text, or the like, to stop all futurepayments from the payer's account until further notification.

As mentioned above, the method and system for electronic payment by apayer of an amount to a payee as described herein is premised on theperceived fact that payers are willing to incur more risk forinternet-based financial transactions in return for control over theconsequences of unauthorized or mis-use of the method and system. Forexample, a payer desiring to make a purchase over an electronic networksuch as the internet is less likely to demand username and/or passwordaccess for purchase amounts that are relatively small. Likewise, a payerdesiring to make a purchase over an electronic network such as theinternet is less likely to demand username and/or password access forcertain transactions if the payer can be assured of receiving a timelynotice of payment, including allegedly unauthorized payment, and, insome embodiments, provided the opportunity to stop future transactionsin a timely manner.

For many financial transactions, such as payment for making a commentdistinctive on an internet content provider's comment section, ordownloading music, or contributing to charity, the amount to be paid canbe relatively small, such as $1.99. For this relatively small amount,and due to the fast paced nature web browsing in general, many userswould forego the payment and the benefit if payment required enteringdata, including a username and/or a password, because it's not worth thetrouble. Likewise, for this relatively small amount, and due to anoption wherein the user can pre-set user-specified controls, such as amaximum amount per transaction, and/or a maximum number of transactionsper time period (e.g., hour, day, week, etc.), and/or a maximum totalamount per time period (e.g., hour, day, week, etc.), a user may bewilling to forego the added security of a username and/or password forthe convenience of a relatively quick, easy transaction.

In a system for electronic payment by a payer of an amount to a payeeutilizing an electronic network such as the internet a payer firstregisters with a third party administrator (TPA) that retainspayer-specific information and payee-specific information for use infacilitating financial transactions. Thus, a payer can register onlinewith a TPA that records information in a manner known in the art forrecording information, including confidential information, in anelectronic format, including information such as the payer's name,address, mailing address, telephone number, wireless telephone number(for Twitter, voice and/or SMS text communication), credit card data,bank account data, personal identification number (PIN), securityquestions (for use in verifying identity), email address, twitteraddress and purchase limit criteria. The purchase limit criteria can beused to place limits on per-transaction purchase amounts and/or thenumber of transactions per time.

In addition to the payer-specified information, the TPA can obtain aclient system device fingerprint (also known as a machine fingerprint),which is a representation of, and can be a summary of, certain softwareor hardware settings of the payer's client system computer, and whichdevice fingerprint is intended to be unique to the payer's computer. Aclient system can be a home computer, a personal computer, a laptop, orany other electronic device capable of internet connectivity andcommunication of payment directives. A device fingerprint can beutilized by the TPA as a client system identifier, and a devicefingerprint can be a unique identifier. The client system identifier isused by the TPA to authenticate the payer's client system and approve arequest by a payer (or someone else using the payer's client system) fora financial transaction. The device fingerprint can be assigned to, orhave components thereof assigned to, the client system by the serversystem of the TPA. The device fingerprint can consist entirely ofnon-assigned (by the TPA) data or information. The device fingerprintcan consist of a string of binary units, a string of alpha-numericcharacters, or combinations thereof. The device fingerprint can bepassively assembled, without payer-noticeable querying of the clientsystem, and can include factors such as a client system's TCP/IPconfiguration, OS fingerprint, IEEE 802.11 (wireless) settings, hardwareclock skew, and combinations thereof. The device fingerprint can beactively assembled, such as by querying the payer/client forinformation, installing an executable code directly on the clientmachine, installing a “cookie” file, installing or recording attributessuch as a MAC address, or other unique serial numbers assigned to thepayer client system software or hardware. If necessary, the TPA serversystem can employ JavaScript or other client-side scripting language forthe harvesting of parameters and/or the enabling of a devicefingerprint, with the intention of establishing a stable, unique devicefingerprint. The device fingerprint can be solely device specific, thatis, the device fingerprint can consist solely of device-specificinformation or parameters and not any user-, or merchantserver-specified information in the form of passwords, cookies, or thelike.

The device fingerprint can serve as the sole credentials for a TPA toauthenticate a client system and to authorize payment from a payer'spayment account. The TPA can, in some embodiments, be used withadditional credentials, such as a password, a PIN, a voice command, afingerprint scanner, a code on a cookie file, or other device. In oneembodiment credentials other than the device fingerprint can be utilizedfor authorization by a payer for payments above the payer-setrisk-mitigating limits discussed herein. For example, if a payerregisters with a TPA and specifies that no purchase is to be authorizedin amounts greater than $100, the TPA can authorize payments in amountsless than $100 based on obtaining a device fingerprint alone, but canauthorize payments in amounts greater than $100 if the user of theclient system enters additional credentials upon prompting by the TPA todo so.

In one embodiment, a device fingerprint can be a code, or a unique code,associated with and accessible from a client system hard drive or othercomponent. For example, a hard drive manufacturer can embed in a segmentof a hard drive, or record on another accessible component such as agraphics card, video driver, or the like, a code or other identifyingdevice which can be accessible by other computer and/or server systemsin communication with the client system, such as via the internet. Inone embodiment, a device fingerprint can be a code, or a unique code,associated with software installed on a client system. In one embodimentclient systems can be manufactured “TPA-ready” such that the hardwareand/or software configuration(s) are set up for use with a TPA accordingto the method and system disclosed herein. In one embodiment, clientsystems can be “pre-registered” such as by being manufactured with adedicated device fingerprint and wherein a user enters all necessaryinformation onto the client system prior to accessing a TPA website. Insuch as system, the user can utilize the services of a TPA from thefirst time the user clicks a clickable access link from a registeredinternet content provider's website, without having to register on theTPA's website. The TPA can, upon first linking in by the client system,access, record, map, and otherwise store sufficient information tofacilitate payment from a user's client system.

The device fingerprint can be obtained by the TPA upon a request by thepayer for the TPA to authorize and pay an amount to a payee, and theaccess can be automatic and transparent to the payer, so that uponrequest for payment by the payer to the payee via the TPA, the TPAaccesses the device fingerprint without the payer doing anything more.That is, the method and system of the invention can be implemented in amanner such that a payer can make a purchase by clicking one link, orbutton, without being required to manually enter any information or datasuch as a password.

Because the TPA accesses the client system to detect a devicefingerprint for authenticating a client system without furtherinteraction from the payer, it can be that the device fingerprint isboth unique (maximum diversity) to avoid another user inadvertentlyhaving the same device fingerprint, and unchanging (maximum stability),which can require that system settings not change on the client system.The two parameters can be linked in that the more relatively stable thedevice fingerprint (i.e., the less parameters used to build it, andtherefore the fewer parameters subject to change), the more likely thedevice fingerprint may not be, or remain, unique relative to otherclient systems registered by the TPA. Therefore, in practice, if onlyclient system parameters are used to compile the device fingerprint, itmay be that the device fingerprint is not unique, and another client,different from the payer/client system, may have the same devicefingerprint.

Because there is a possibility that the payer's client system's devicefingerprint can be the same as another client system's, the method ofthe invention can include a step of a payer verifying his or heridentity after the TPA recognizes multiple client system devicefingerprints. Verification can be by any means known in the art,including by password, personal identification number (PIN), or merelyby the TPA querying the payer for a first and/or last name, or by theTPA (for ease of user interaction) providing a payer-specific pick listof non-sensitive items, such as first names, including the name'sassociated with both (or all) TPA-registered clients having the samedevice fingerprint, and having the payer indicate, such as by clickingon a button, his or her first name (or other payer-specificnon-sensitive information). At this time computer executableinstructions on the TPA servers and/or client-side scripting code canaugment the client system device fingerprint to increase the chances ofit being unique.

The payer can instruct certain transaction controls to the third party,such controls being implemented by computer executable instructionsmaintained by the third party, and which are communicatively effectivein facilitating a financial transaction between the payer and theinternet content provider payee. The payer can instruct the third partyto use the payer's client system's device fingerprint for approving andimplementing all purchase instructions. The payer can instruct the thirdparty to use the payer's client system's device fingerprint as a uniqueidentifier for approving and implementing all purchase instructions forpurchases below a maximum amount pre-set by the payer duringregistration, or later, with the third party. The payer can instruct thethird party to use the payer's system log-on password and/or the fact ofthe payer having used a password to log onto the payer's computer (forexample, by setting a “password flag” during startup) for purchasesabove an amount pre-set by the payer during registration with the thirdparty. The payer can instruct the third party to limit the number oftransaction per time, such as number of transactions per hour, or perday. The payer can instruct the third party to limit the total amount ofpurchases per time, such as per hour, or per day. The payer can instructthe third party to notify the payer upon each transaction, via email,SMS text, Twitter®, or any other form of communication. The notificationof a transaction can include a way for the payer to stop futuretransactions, such as by a phone number, text message, reply textmessage, reply Twitter®, HTML hyperlink, or other electroniccommunication. All payer-specified controls can be set for useindividually or in combination.

In one embodiment an internet user, such as a reader of news or blogsonline, or a purchaser of online catalog content, registers with a thirdparty administrator (TPA), the TPA then being accessible to internetcontent providers who can utilize its payment services, much likeinternet content providers currently can use PayPal® for facilitatingfinancial transactions. Thus, just as a potential payer can registerwith PayPal®, and thereafter utilize the PayPal® button provided on byan internet content provider to facilitate an online financialtransaction by entering at least a PayPal® password, the presentinvention contemplates a potential payer can register with a TPA any orall of at least the above-mentioned information (payer's name, address,credit card data, etc.) to be used according to payer-specified riskmitigating controls in an online purchase of goods or services withoutthe requirement that the payer manually enter any information at thetime of purchase. Thus, in one sense, the present invention can bepracticed like a combination of PayPal® and the Amazon.com® 1-click®method. It is, in this sense, a “universal one-click” method in whichonline purchasers can use one click technology with any merchantutilizing the services of a TPA with which a payer/client is registered.

In one embodiment a system for payment by a payer of an amount to apayee utilizing an electronic network such as the internet can beimplemented by an internet content provider utilizing the services of aTPA, and rendering the TPA services accessible to the payer. Forexample, just as PayPal® services can be provided for by showing at thepoint of purchase a PayPal® “button” for the user to click, the internetcontent provider can provide HTML hyperlink, radio button, or other“clickable” access to the TPA for selection by a payer.

In operation the electronic commerce system of the present inventionutilizes a communication interface, such as the internet or othercommunication network, adapted to transmit financial transaction data,as is known in the art. In one embodiment, in the terms of U.S. Pat. No.5,960,411, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for itsenabling teaching of methods and systems for internet commerce, aninternet content provider's server system and a client system, theclient being in the context of the present invention a payer for onlinegoods or services, and, in the context of a method and system of thepresent invention, can be a reader or commenter. The structure andmethods of the present invention can be generally according to thedescription in the '411 patent with respect to FIG. 2 therein, whichshows a client system in communication with a server system, with eachsystem operatively connected via appropriate computer executableinstructions to effect a financial transfer of funds from a payer to apayee. In the case of the '411 patent, the financial transfer iseffected by so-called “one click” methodology between the client payerand the payee directly, without a TPA, using a methodology which relieson a server-assigned unique client identifier that is accessible to theserver by way of a client file called a cookie. The present invention isan improvement over the “one click” technology embodied in the '411patent.

The method and system of the invention can use network security andfraud detection systems and methods as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,272,728 and U.S. 2005/0278542, each entitled Network Security andFraud Detection System and Method, and each of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference for all enabling teaching of networksecurity and fraud detection, as well as for network deviceregistration, reputation monitoring, uniquely identifying clientdevices, and generating fingerprints for network devices, such as thepayer client systems of the present invention.

The method and system of the invention can make use of any known onlinepayment methods and systems, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,677,955, entitled Electronic Funds Transfer Instruments; U.S. Pat. No.7,275,685, entitled Method for Electronic Payment; and, U.S. Pub. No.2007/0170245A1, entitled Secure Payment System, each of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference for all enabling teaching of onlinepayment systems and methods, secure payment systems and methods,components, software, hardware, interface devices, and the like.

A method and system of the present invention for fast, easy,risk-mitigated electronic commerce is described with respect to theflowcharts depicted in FIGS. 3-6. In the illustrated embodiment certainnon-limiting options and features are described. The skilled person willrecognize that some or all of the disclosed features can be utilized ina method of the present invention, and the illustrated embodiments arenot to be construed as preferred, optimal, necessary, or otherwiselimiting. It is understood that all features and advantages of thepresent invention can be utilized or augmented with known technologiesfor security, such as encryption methodologies; speed, such as dynamicdirectory services; or any and all computer hardware, software, firmwareand supporting accessories. Such methodologies can be according to theteachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,209,970, entitled Authentication,Application-Authorization, and User Profiling Using Dynamic DirectoryServices, or U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,334, entitled Method and System forSecure Guaranteed Transactions over a Computer Network, or U.S. Pat. No.6,330,550, entitled Cross-Media Notifications for E-Commerce, each ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference herein for their respectiveenabling teaching of methods and systems for electronic commerce, all ofwhich teaching can be utilized in the present invention.

The method and system of the present invention generally involves threeentities: 1) a payer, who can also be the reader of internet content whowishes to pay to have his comment made distinctive or purchase goods orservices online; 2) a payee, who can be the internet content provider orother online merchant, and who is ultimately the recipient of the fundsfrom a payer's account; and 3) a third party administrator (TPA), whichauthenticates a payer and administers payment from a payer to a payee.

The TPA is a party that acts as the “go-between” transaction facilitatorbetween a payer/purchaser on a client system and a payee/merchant on aserver system. Thus, a TPA of the present invention serves a similarfunction as that served by PayPal® in known methods and systems ofelectronic commerce, and a TPA can use any and all useful features andcomponents of a PayPal® or PayPal®-like system as can be beneficiallyutilized in conjunction with the present invention.

A payer who desires to take advantage of the features of a method andsystem for electronic commerce described herein first registers from thepayer/client's system with the third party administrator. Registrationcan involve supplying certain information relevant to identifying aclient system, a payer, and a payment account, and can be achieved inany known manner, including by telephone, U.S. mail, or electronicallyby logging onto the TPA's website 310, for example by entering the TPA'sURL into the client system's web browsing software. Registration caninvolve, for example, filling in fields on an online form which the TPAuses to populate a mapped directory of information which the TPA thenstores and uses for facilitating monetary transfers. The payer canchoose to register with the TPA 312, thereby availing the payer of theTPA's services. If the payer chooses not to register, the payer can stayon the TPA's website at the registration page, or, of course, close thepage.

In the registration process the TPA can gather certain information fromthe payer, by obtaining it directly from the payer's client system, suchas passively harvesting parameter(s) for the device fingerprint, and/orby requiring the payer to enter certain information, such as credit cardinformation. In one embodiment, the TPA obtains and records in a datafile the device fingerprint parameters 314 of the registering payer. Thedevice fingerprint can serve in later transactions as a uniqueidentifier of the payer's client system, and can serve as the solecredential for the TPA to authenticate a client system and authorizepayment from a payer's payment account.

TPA computer executable instructions can facilitate at registrationobtaining other payer information and mapping the information to thepayer's client system's device fingerprint 316. Payer information caninclude any or all of various information such as the payer's name,address, mailing address, telephone number (for voice and/or textcommunication), credit card data, bank account data, security questions(for use in verifying identity), email address, PIN number (for use inverifying identity, or for approving over-limit transactions, twitteraddress and purchase limit criteria. The purchase limit criteria can beused to place limits on per-transaction purchase amounts and/or thenumber of transactions per time, and/or the total purchase amount overtime. The TPA can also utilize, or embed, a file on the payer's clientsystem to set a flag, referred to as a “password flag”, if the payerutilized a password to log onto the payer's client system prior tologging onto the TPA's website. Many of the payer-specified information,such as a PIN, as well as certain parameters such as the password flag,can be utilized as extra risk-mitigating credentials or controls by theTPA.

Computer-executable instructions on the TPA system can facilitate thevarious methods and processes of the present invention, includingmapping the entered payer data 316 appropriately in any manner known inthe art, as well as any other payer-specified or system-providedcontrols the TPA offers. For example, the TPA can offer the option, andthe payer/client can choose, to specify a maximum purchase amount pertransaction, placing an upper limit on how much any individual purchaseamount can be. Likewise, a payer/client can specify a maximum number ofpurchases per period of time, such as a maximum number of purchases per24 hours, placing an upper limit on the number of purchases that the TPAcan approve in any given time period, such as per hour, day, week, andthe like. Further, a payer/client can specify a maximum total purchaseamount per specified time period, placing an upper limit on the totalpurchase amount the TPA is to approve for any given time period, such asper hour, day, week, and the like. Still further, the payer/client canprovide, and the TPA can record/map, a password or PIN to permit thepayer/client to exceed the payer-specified limits, if desired.

The payer-specified controls can be utilized by the payer to mitigaterisk associated with unauthorized use of the payer's client system byothers. Thus, if the payer's client system's device fingerprint isutilized by the TPA to authenticate the payer and approve payment fromthe payer's mapped credit card account, an unauthorized user of thepayer's client system (e.g., the payer's computer from which heregistered with the TPA), can make unauthorized purchases, but theamount and/or number of such purchases will be constrained by the limitsimposed by the payer during registration and account set up. Theselimits can effectively shield the payer from excessive losses due tounauthorized use. Moreover, as disclosed further below, after eachpurchase, the TPA can notify the payer via, for example, text message tothe payer's cell phone upon completion of any purchase (or start of anytransaction process), and the payer can, if desired, instruct the TPA tostop all transactions until further notification by the payer. Likewise,if, by chance, another client system has a device fingerprint identicalto the payer's client system, the TPA can ask for further authenticationfrom the payer, such as requiring the payer to enter a PIN, or answer asecurity question, or the like.

In one embodiment, all the payer-specified controls to limit risk ofunauthorized use can be payer client system log-on password dependent.That is, upon linking to the TPA for a purchase transaction, the TPA canquery the payer/client's system to indicate if, upon start-up of thepayer's session on the payer's client system, the payer entered apassword. If so, a password flag is set. Alternatively, a payer/clientsystem's computer can set a flag upon entry of a correct password, andthe TPA server system simply recognizes on the client system the statusof the password set flag. The payer can specify a different upper limitto all purchase limits based on whether the password flag is set or not.For example, the payer/client can specify a maximum purchase amount pertransaction of $5.00 if the password flag is not set, and a maximumpurchase amount per transaction of $50.00 if the password flag is set.

TPA computer-executable instructions can map a payer's client system'sdevice fingerprint to other payer information, such as the payer'scredit card information 318. In like manner, any of the otherinformation gathered during the registration process by the TPA can bemapped to the payer in a data file kept on the TPA server system, orotherwise recorded, kept or accessed as is known in the art. In oneembodiment, the payer's device fingerprint can be a unique identifierassigned to the payer/client system, as disclosed in the above-mentionedU.S. Pat. No. 5,960,411. But one advantage of the present invention isthe use for commercial transactions of the payer/client system's devicefingerprint as a, or part of a, unique identifier. In such a system themerchant can utilize the TPA, obviating the need to assign a uniqueidentifier to every user, and the payer need not remember a password,and need not be burdened with the time-consuming step of either enteringa password, or going through a password recovery process.

Much of the information utilized by a TPA can be personally identifiablyinformation (PII), and for that reason the TPA can have in placecontrols to ensure that PII is not inadvertently publicly disclosed. Adevice fingerprint can include PII, and, if so, can be maintained on theTPA's computer systems in a confidentially secure manner, as is known inthe art for computerized systems holding confidential information.

The TPA can suggest or require a payer registrant to enter informationfor security purposes, such as a PIN 320, or other information likesecurity questions. Such information can be utilized by the TPA toauthenticate a payer if required for any reason. Likewise, a PIN orother password or security question can be used by the TPA toauthenticate and approve purchases that exceed any of thepayer-specified controls, such as maximum amount per purchase.

A merchant/payee Internet content provider can also register with theTPA information for achieving a transfer of funds from the payer'spayment account to the payee's receiving account, including sufficientinformation to enable the TPA to facilitate the receiving of a depositof monetary funds in a receiving account. Therefore, a potential payeeinternet content provider, such as an online merchant, desiring to havepayers purchasing goods and services can register with the TPA suchinformation as name, address, bank account number, bank codes, and thelike. Upon registering, the merchant/payee can display upon themerchant's website(s) a visual indication of access to the TPA service,which indication can be a “clickable” hyperlink or a “button” forclicking on by the payer, in similar manner as currently many merchantwebsites make available by display the PayPal® service with a PayPal®button to be clicked on by the user. Clicking can be by known means, forexample by pressing the left button of a mouse, or the left button of alaptop touchpad. The TPA service can be named a distinctive name thatconnotes ease and speed. Such names as TapIt™ or FlashClick™ orOneTouch™ or WhizIt™ or NanoClick™ are contemplated as sourceidentifiers for a TPA service.

A payer using a client system registered with a TPA can practice amethod and system of the invention according to an illustratedembodiment as described in the flowchart of FIGS. 4-6. As shown in FIG.4, a payer/client turns on or otherwise logs on his or her clientsystem, such as a home computer, a laptop, or other computing device,including mobile devices. If necessary or desired, the payer/client usesa log on password to access and log onto the client system 410. Examplesof such passwords are passwords to run Microsoft® Windows® software,passwords to run Novell® software, and the like. If a password isrequired, the client system can prompt for a password 412, and if thepassword entered is correct 414, a password flag can be set on theclient system 416. If a password is not required a password flag is notset on the client system 418.

The payer/client can use a web browser such as Microsoft Explorer® toaccess websites on the internet, including merchant websites on whichgoods and/or services are offered for sale 420. An online merchantinternet content provider can display as part of its online informationan offer for sale of goods or services, and an offer amount. The offeramount can be a fixed amount, or can be a dynamic amount, such as in anauction context. The online merchant internet content provider canprovide a clickable link for a payer/client, or other reader, to clickon, the link being a button, radio button, HTML hyperlink, or other ofany known clickable graphic devices which a payer desiring to accept theonline offer can click. “Clickable” is used in its ordinary,contemporary meaning as is well known to users of internet content, andrefers to a type of device, such as a graphical user interface device,displayed on a client system screen, and which a payer or reader canclick on by one or more clicks of a mouse, pointing device, touchpad, orthe like. Thus, a user can single click, double click, left click, rightclick, or tap a touch pad, or the like to click a clickable linkprovided for the purpose of initiating a purchase transaction.

The payer/client can request to make a purchase by indicating suchdesire in any known manner, such as by clicking on a clickable link,such as a “buy it now” button, or an “add to cart” button, or the like422. Clicking on the clickable link can link to the TPA, sending to theTPA by known methods relevant information such as the internet contentprovider's identity and the offer amount (or purchase amount), at whichtime computer executable instructions

As further shown in FIG. 5, when a payer/client is ready to complete apurchase, if the merchant/payee has enabled TPA access such that a TPAservice is enabled 510 and there is a clickable link provided, apurchaser for goods or services can click on a TPA access link 512. Tothe payer, clicking on the TPA access link is akin to clicking onAmazon.com's “Buy now with 1-click®” button in the sense that theremainder of the method and system can be largely, if not completely,transparent to the payer, and no further action may be required tocomplete the purchase of goods or services. Specifically, uponsuccessful recognition by the TPA of the client system's devicefingerprint, and if used, all other controls are satisfied, no othercredentials are required from the payer/client at the time of purchase.That is, no more credentials such as passwords, PINS, unique codes, orother security devices need be utilized. In this manner, relatively easyand fast transactions can take place from any enabled internet contentprovider's online information, thus providing for a universal one-clickfeature on the internet. If TPA access is not enabled, the payer/clientcan complete a financial transaction using other payment methods 514,such as PayPal® or ordinary checkout with credit card data entry.

Once the TPA-registered payer/client clicks on the merchant's TPA accessbutton, the client system communicates with the TPA system in ahandshake in which the TPA identifies the client system devicefingerprint and associates it with mapped payer data. For example, theTPA can recognize the client system by its device fingerprint andcorrelate the mapped payment account associated with the client system.If the device fingerprint is not mapped the payer/client can complete afinancial transaction using other payment methods 514, such as PayPal®or ordinary checkout with credit card data entry. If the client systemdevice fingerprint is mapped 516, the TPA can check if the client systempassword flag is set 518.

In one embodiment, the password set flag can be used as a control onpurchasing options, such as a control on the maximum amount perpurchase, or other limiting control, as set by the payer/client duringregistration and setup with the TPA. If used, for example, the TPA canquery the password flag set and if the password flag is set check to seeif the purchase amount attempting to be approved is greater than thelimit for a correct password at client system start up 520, and, if thepassword flag is not set, check to see if the purchase amount attemptingto be approved is greater than the limit for no password entered atclient system start up 522. In other words, a password entry upon clientsystem startup can serve as an additional control to mitigate risk ofunauthorized purchases being made on a payer's client system.

As shown in FIG. 6, the method and system of the invention can include astep of ensuring that the attempted purchase does not result in acumulative amount per a set time period that exceeds a payer-specifiedmaximum limit for purchases in the set time period 610. For example, thepayer/client can, upon registration with a TPA, specify that the TPA notfacilitate purchase amounts that total cumulatively greater than $50.00per any 24 hour period. If the payment amount exceeds such apayer-specified limit, the payer/client can complete a financialtransaction using other payment methods 614, which can be the samemethods as previously indicated in FIG. 5 as 514, such as PayPal® orordinary checkout with credit card data entry.

Once all controls have been satisfied, the TPA can facilitate by knownmeans of electronic funds transfer completion of the purchasetransaction 612. The payer's payment account as registered with the TPAcan be debited such that funds can be withdrawn from the payer's paymentaccount and deposited into the payees receiving account as registeredwith the TPA.

The amount of monetary funds debited and deposited can be at least theoffer amount, and can include taxes or fees. In one embodiment, theoffer amount can be debited from a payer's payment account, and anamount less than the offer amount can be credited to, or deposited in,an internet content provider's receiving account, with the differencerepresenting fee(s) charged by the TPA, and/or credit agencies.

As an additional risk mitigating control, the TPA can send aconfirmation of the transaction to the payer's communication device ofchoice 616. For example, the TPA can confirm transaction completion withan email to a payer's email account. Likewise, the TPA can send aTwitter® message to either the payer's client system or to a payer'scell phone. Likewise, the TPA can send a confirmation message as a textmessage to a payer's cell phone. In this manner, any use, includingunauthorized use, of the payer's client system can be detected and thepayer can act accordingly. In particular, if unauthorized use is made ofa payer's client system the payer can receive notification even if he orshe does not have immediate access to the client system.

In one embodiment, the method and system of the invention can include afeature in which a payer can easily and quickly stop further activity onhis or her client system. For example, if an unauthorized use of thepayer's client system occurs, the TPA can send a text message ofpurchase completion to the payer's cell phone, and the text message cancontain a phone number, a link, a reply address, or the like, for whichthe payer can easily call, link or reply to instruct the TPA to stop allfurther transactions until notified.

Other variations and modifications can be included in the method andsystem of the present invention. For example, for added security, and inthe event that two client systems registered with the TPA have identicaldevice fingerprints, an additional confirmation step can occur after theTPA checks if a client system's device fingerprint is matched, i.e., at516 of FIG. 5. In such an event, computer executable instructions fromthe TPA server can query the user of the client system for a password,PIN, or other identifier and receive back a correct entry beforecontinuing with the purchase transaction.

Another embodiment of the invention can include opportunity for furthermonetization of internet activity by providing a reverse payment schemein which an internet content provider can utilize the services of a TPAto transfer funds into the account of a payer. In one embodiment, theinternet content provider can transfer funds to a payer upon apayer-initiated site visit from a contact of the payer. For example,after a payer completes a transaction to have a comment rendereddistinctive, the payer can be prompted to send, and send, to specifiedcontacts, such as by email or Twitter® a message encouraging the contactto visit the internet content provider's website. In one embodiment, thepayer, after paying for a comment to be made distinctive, can choose toactivate a send feature from the internet content provider's website, tosend messages to contacts with a message like “Hey, I just left acomment; check it out!” or “You won't believe what people are sayinghere!” with a hyperlink to the internet content provider's website. Uponeach visit by a contact of the payer, which can be authenticated bymeans known in the art, such as providing an appropriate URL or anembedded code, the Internet content provider can authorize, via the TPA,for funds to be deposited in the payer's account.

In one embodiment, a payer, after paying for goods or services, or afterpaying for a comment to be made distinctive, can be prompted with thechoice, such as by a clickable button and appropriate questions, to senda message to friends, family, or other contacts, encouraging them tovisit the online merchant from whom a purchase was made. The message,which can be sent by any electronic means such as by email or SMS text,can be payer-generated or provided by the online merchant. The messageincludes an HTML hyperlink to the online merchant or internet contentprovider which is unique to the payer and recognized by the internetcontent provider as being provided by the payer. The unique URL can goto a landing page on the internet content provider's website, whichlanding page can be automatically re-directed to the page of choice,such as a news/comment page referred to by the payer in his message tocontacts. In this manner, the internet content provider recognizes theURL as having been assigned to the payer, and can initiate a transfer offunds to the payer's account.

In another embodiment an internet content provider can provide noopportunity for free comments, but only paid comments. In such a system,the method of the present invention can be modified such thatdistinctiveness or position is determined by the amount paid relative toother commenter's amounts. Thus, as each commenter must pay to have hisor her comment posted, those who pay more can have their comments postednearer the top of the list, or with more distinctive visual features. Insuch an embodiment, rather than providing a “free” default format, theinternet content can provide a “non-free” or “paid” default format. Inone embodiment the internet content provider can require a base, orminimum, fee for posting in a default format, such as chronologicalorder, and any payment over and above the base fee is considered thepayment for distinctiveness, as disclosed herein.

While the invention has been described in detail, many other of variousknown features and methods, equipment, components, and techniques ofonline, internet-based systems and methods could be utilized with thepresent invention, such as reverse auction techniques, bid pooling,participant information gathering, use of virtual private networks (asdistinct from a public internet), “one click” and “buy it now” features,dynamic and/or streaming pricing information, multiple participanttransactional systems, secure information and data transmission,evolving dialog boxes, monitoring and notification of irregular networkactivity, prioritization of third party access to online sites,incentivizing comment reviews, and secure credit payment, to name somenon-limiting examples. Therefore, the following patents and/orapplications are hereby incorporated by reference herein, together withthe above-mentioned U.S. Ser. No. 11/197,067, for their enablingteaching on various aspects and features of internet-based systems andmethods, including those which could be incorporated to enhance thesystem and method of the present invention, but which for concisenessare not literally reproduced in full herein: U.S. Ser. No. 10/988,274,filed Nov. 11, 2004, entitled System and Method for Blog Functionality;U.S. Ser. No. 11/540,716, filed Oct. 2, 2006, entitled Method andApparatus for Publishing Content Through Blog; U.S. Ser. No. 10/879,528,filed Jun. 30, 2004, entitled Content Publishing Over Mobile Networks;U.S. Ser. No. 11/443,436, filed May 30, 2006, entitled Providing Rewardsfor Manual User Insertion of One or More Ads into a Document to be MadeAvailable to Another User or Users, for Distribution of Such Documents,and/or For User Actions on Such Distributed Ads; U.S. Ser. No.11/420,970, filed May 30, 2006, entitled User Distributed SearchResults; U.S. Ser. No. 11/464,813, filed Aug. 15, 2006, entitled Systemand Method for Conducting an Electronic Message Forum; U.S. Ser. No.11/351,257, filed Feb. 9, 2006, entitled Facilitation of OnlineDiscussion; U.S. Ser. No. 11/846,183, filed Aug. 28, 2007, entitledSystem and Method for Enhanced Interaction; U.S. Ser. No. 11/925,964,filed Oct. 28, 2007, entitled Methods for Publishing Web Content; U.S.Ser. No. 11/604,949, filed Nov. 27, 2006, entitled System and Method forPeer-to-Peer Internet Communication; U.S. Ser. No. 10/988,274, filedNov. 11, 2004, entitled System and Method for Blog Functionality; U.S.Ser. No. 11/086,501, filed Mar. 21, 2005, entitled System and Method forNotifying of the Posting of a Web Logging Message Via a DispatchCommunication; U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,051, filed Feb. 19, 1999, entitledFacilitating Internet Commerce Through Internetworked Auctions; U.S.Pat. No. 6,449,601, filed Dec. 30, 1998, entitled Distributed LiveAuction; U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,376, filed Jun. 30, 2000, entitledInternet-based Auction Method; U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,649, filed Mar. 10,2000, entitled Smooth End of Auction on the Internet; U.S. Pat. No.6,044,363, filed Sep. 2, 1997, entitled Automatic Auction Method; U.S.Pat. No. 6,466,917, filed Mar. 9, 2000, entitled Method and Apparatusfor Verifying the Identity of a Participant Within an On-line AuctionEnvironment; U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,138, filed Mar. 30, 1999, entitledComputer Auction System; U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,896, filed Nov. 10, 1998,entitled Method and System for Processing and Transmitting ElectronicAuction Information; U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,363, filed Mar. 28, 2000,Automatic Auction Method; U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,343, filed Jul. 31, 2001,entitled Online Marketing System and Method; U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,270,filed Jul. 2, 2002, entitled Interactive Remote Auction Bidding System;U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,601, filed Sep. 10, 2002, entitled Distributed LiveAuction; U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,838, filed Jul. 1, 2003, entitled Methodand System for Conducting Real Time Electronic Commerce; U.S. Pat. No.6,671,674, filed Dec. 30, 2003, entitled Computer-based Auction and SaleSystem; U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,376, filed Apr. 4, 2006, entitledInternet-based Auction Method; U.S. Pat. No. 7,085,732, filed Aug. 1,2006, entitled Online Trading for the Placement of Advertising Media;U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,446, filed Jan. 9, 2007, entitled IntegratedAuction; U.S. Pat. No. 7,225,151, filed May 29, 2007, entitled OnlineAuction Bid Management System and Method; U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,055, filedJul. 24, 2007, entitled Method and System for Managing and Conducting aNetwork Auction; U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,085, filed Jul. 24, 2007, entitledMethod and System for Conducting Electronic Auctions withMulti-Parameter Price Equalization Bidding; U.S. Pat. No. 7,315,832,filed Jan. 1, 2008, entitled Online Bidding System; U.S. Pat. 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1. A computer-implemented system for monetizing internet content, thesystem comprising: a. an internet content provider providing onlineinformation and an online comment section associated with said onlineinformation, said online comment section capable of having postedthereto reader comments in a free default format; b. computer executableinstructions for performing steps comprising: i. displaying to a reader,who can leave a reader comment in response to said online information,an offer associated with said online information, said offer being anoffer to alter a reader comment from said free default format to adistinctive format for a fee; ii. receiving by said internet contentprovider, from a reader of said online information, an acceptance ofsaid offer; iii. altering said reader comment from said free defaultformat; and iv. displaying said altered comment in said online commentsection; c. a processor for executing said computer executableinstructions; and d. a memory for storing at least said computerexecutable instructions.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said internetcontent provider provides content via a website and said content is anews story or blog entry, and said comment section is disposed at theend of said news story or blog entry.
 3. The system of claim 1, whereinsaid acceptance of said offer is received after said reader clicks on adesignated link.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said altered commentdoes not include an indication of a time of posting.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said altering of said comment is upon paymentfacilitated by a third party administrator without manually-enteredcredentials selected from the group consisting of user name andpassword.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said fee is fixed, and saidcomment is altered in a manner selected from the group consisting of,altered appearance and altered placement relative to other comments. 7.The system of claim 1, wherein said fee is dynamically adjustable, andsaid comment is altered relative to other comments having paid an equalor lesser fee in a manner selected from the group consisting of, alteredappearance and altered placement.
 8. A computer-implemented method formonetizing online internet content, the method comprising the steps of:a. publishing internet content online by an internet content provider;b. providing with said published content a section for posting readercomments; c. providing to a reader, who can leave a reader comment inresponse to said published content, an option of posting for free saidreader comment as a default format comment or posting for a fee saidreader comment made distinctive relative to a default format comment;and d. posting said reader's comment made distinctive relative to adefault format, wherein said comment made distinctive does not includean indication of a time of posting.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinsaid internet content provider publishes content via a website and saidcontent is a news story or blog entry, and said comment section isdisposed at the end of said news story or blog entry.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, wherein said fee is received in a receiving account associatedwith said internet content provider.
 11. The method of claim 8, whereinsaid fee is received from a payment account of said reader, said paymentaccount being selected from a credit card account, a debit card account,a PayPal® account, or combinations thereof.
 12. The method of claim 8,wherein said fee is fixed, and said comment is altered in a mannerselected from the group consisting of, altered appearance and alteredplacement relative to other comments.
 13. The method of claim 8, whereinsaid fee is dynamically adjustable, and said comment is altered relativeto other comments having paid an equal, greater, or lesser fee in amanner selected from the group consisting of, altered appearance andaltered placement.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein said reader'scomment is transformed from a first default tangible expression ofcontent to a second distinctive tangible expression of content bycomputer machines.